Strap for wrist watches, apparel belts, and the like



y Y J. P. SCHULTHEISS 2,353,854

STRAP FOR WRI ST-WATCHES, APPAREL BELTS, AND THE LIKE Filed April 30, 1945' 29 'za MQ:

Patented July 18, 1944 STRAP FOR WRIST WATCHES, APPAREL BELTS, AND THE LIKE John P. Schultheiss, Attleboro, Mass, assignor to R. F. Simmons Company, Attleboro, Mass, a partnership consisting of Harold E. Sweet and Hayward H. Sweet Application April 30, 1943, Serial No. 485,239

3 Claims.

This invention relates to straps for wristwatches, belts, harnesses and the like and consists in improvements in the method of forming a pointed terminal tip on the strap for the purpose of facilitating its insertion through a buckle, clasp or other fastening means.

One object of the invention is to provide a strap having its pointed tip-end of neat and finished appearance without raw edges.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of forming the pointed tipend of the strap without cutting the leather or fabric while producing a finished edge corresponding to the longitudinal edges of the strap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of folding in portions of the leather or fabric at the ends of the strap between its layers or laminations to form a pointed tip which may be stitched to conform to the stitched edges of the main portion of the strap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap of multiple layers having a loop at one end for engagement with the bail of a wristwatch or for connection with other parts, and a neat and finished pointed tip at its opposite end adapted for convenient insertion through the buckle or other fastening means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strap of the type specified which is of neater and more finished appearance and capable of being manufactured in a machine at rela tively low cost.

Several preferred methods of forming the strap of the present invention are described in the following specification, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of a two-part wrist-watch strap embodying the present invention and having looped ends with the free end of one part fastened by a buckle;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the strap shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the strap taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the two lengths of a double thickness leather strap before they are folded into overlying relationship and stitched together, and illustrating the skived portions which are adapted to be folded into place to form the pointed tip at the free end of the strap;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the strap illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 indicating the manner in which the skived triangular portions of the strap are folded inwardly to form the are stitched together.

pointed tip at the end of the strap when the two parts are overlaid;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the end of the strap with the accordion pleats folded in between the overlying lengths of the leather before the layers are pressed together and stitched;

Fig. '7 is an end View of the pointed'terminal tip of the strap showing the accordion folds at its sides which are finally flattened by compressing the tip;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a completed strap with its pointed terminal tip folded and compressed and the parts stitched together;

Fig. 9 illustrates another method of making the strap from a continuous strip of material with a continuous loop at one end and a pointed tip at its opposite end;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional View illustrating a strap or band constructed of fabric with two overlying relatively thick layers strengthening and stiffening it; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a fabric strap having interliners or, fillerstrips for stiffening and strengthening the strap.

Wrist-watch straps, apparel belts, and harness straps are usually constructed of two or more thicknesses of leather, or in some cases fabric, placed one over another in overlying relationship and stitched together along their edges. When the strap is used with a buckle, clasp or similar fastening means its free end is usually rounded or pointed to provide for convenience in inserting it through the buckle or other fastening means. To provide a strap of neat and finished appearance which is more durable in use with wrist-watches and for other purposes, the marginal portions of the several layers of leather are usually skived to form relatively thin portions which are folded inwardly along the edges and cemented in place, after which the two lengths Thus, the marginal portions of the strap have the same finish and appearance as the outer surfaces of the leather without raw edges liable to wear and become abraded.

It is a common practice to form the free end of the strap with a pointed or rounded end by slitting the folded-in marginal portions of the leather to provide small triangular tabs at this point and folding them inwardly in conformity to the rounded shape of the tip. Such a method of forming the tip-end of the strap must be accomplished by painstaking handwork, adding to the cost of manufacture and it is difiicult to secure the small tabs. of the folded marginal portions of the strap permanently in place to prevent them from pulling out, that is by breaking'away from the stitching.

The present invention provides an improved method of forming a pointed tip at the end of the strap without slitting or cutting the leather or other material, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture while securing a more permanent finish at the edges of the tip.

Fig. 1 of the drawing illustrates a conventional type of wrist-watch strap comprising two sections 2 and 3, each having a loop 4 or 5 at its end for attaching it to the bails of the watch-case. One section 2 of the strap is also provided with a second loop 6 for attachment to a buckle Ii) as shown in Fig. 2. The other section 3 of the strap is formed with a pointed. tip l l at its free end for insertion through the buckle it with suitable spaced holes I2 punched through the strap for receiving the tongue of the buckle. While the strap described above is of conventional form it is to be understod that the present invention is applicable to other types for use with wristwatches or for apparel belts and parts of harnesses, and in place of the buckle any usual form of sliding clasp may be employed therewith.

In forming the strap in accordance with the present invention I may employ a single strip of leather finished in the usual way on one side and having its marginal portions M thinned down by skiving as indicated at [5 in Fig. 3. These marginal portions of the strap are folded inwardly to overlap the unfinished surface of the leather and cemented thereto to provide the slightly rounded finished edges indicated at it in Fig. 3.

The single strip of leather is usually folded to provide two overlying lengths or layers ii and i8 which are stitched together along their marginal edges as shown in Fig. l. The present invention relates to the strap length or part having the free end for insertion through the buckle or clasp and particularly to the method of forming the pointed tip thereof.

At a point substantially midway between its ends the strip of leather is skived and thinned down to taper toward a median transverse line, indicated at l9 in Fig. 4, where it is to be folded to form the tip. That is to say, the leather is skived to reduce its thickness tapering toward the transverse line of the fold as shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. This relatively thin skived portion of the leather is then folded inwardly at either side of the strap, the accordionlike folds or pleats 26 being of triangular shape tapering from the edges of the strap toward its center, see Figs. 6 and 7. The two overlying sections 51 and I8 of the strap are pressed one against the other in overlying relationship and cemented together, and the folded triangular portions 20 may also be cemented in place in the same manner. After the loop 5 has been formed at the opposite end of the strap its two overlying sections or layers I! and I8 are stitched together along the marginal edges and also around the margin of the pointed end as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The loop 5 for connection with the bail of the watch may be formed in any suitable manner, preferably by folding under a length of the upper section I! of the strap, skiving the leather at its end and inserting it under the skived end of the main underlying portion E8 of the strap as shown in Fig. 2. The skived ends are cemented together and the stitching carried laterally across the strap at this point as shown in Fig. 8, this view representing the under side of the strap. When the leather strap is completed in this manner it will comprise a double thickness of leather with a finish on both sides and its longitudinal edges and the edges of the tip also presenting a smooth finished appearance. In other words, the unfinished side of the leather is enclosed and protected between the two overlying layers of the strap and no raw edges are exposed either at the marginal portions of the strap or at its pointed tip. The whole strap, therefore, has a more pleasing and finished appearance with a pointed tip of the proper shape to render it convenient for insertion through the buckle or clasp.

Fig. 9 illustrates another method of producing a double thickness or laminated strap with a pointed tip at its end. In this form of construc tion the two sections 23 and 24 of the strap are folded into overlying relationship to form a loop 25 at one end for attachment to the bail of the watch-case. The pointed tip at the opposite end of the strap is formed in the same manner as previously described. one section of the strap buing longer than the other and having a relatively thin skived portion at 26 a short distance from its end adapted for forming into the triangular folds 21 at the sides. The short length 28 extending beyond the folds 21 is skived at its end to adapt it to overlap a similarly-skived portion 29 at the end of the shorter length 23 to which it is cemented and stitched to complete the strap.

In some instances wrist-watch straps and belts are made from fabric, for example woven webbing, and this type of strap, band or belt may be treated in the same way to form a pointed tip at its end. Fabric watch-straps are preferred for military use and generally are made of heavy khaki-colored webbing.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of this type of strap made from textile webbing and to form its tip, triangular portions of its looped end are folded inwardly in the manner as previously described with the overlying parts 30 and 3| of the strip cemented and stitched together along its margins. The fabric material is quite flexible so that it can be compressed at the folded portions without greatly increasing the combined thicknesses at the tip-end of the strap; and since it has selvages at its edges no folding isrequired along the margins of the band.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of a fabric strap constructed of thinner material. With this type of strap, which may be constructed of strips of woven fabric without selvages, the marginal portions 35 at the sides of the strip 35 are folded inwardly to meet at the center, thereby providing a double thickness along the whole length of both overlying sections of the strip. At its looped end the fabric in the strips may be turned inwardly in accordion folds and cemented in place to form the pointed tip in the manner previously described. The several thicknesses of material are stitched together at 3'! along the marginal portions and the resulting strap is relatively strong to provide against wear and deterioration in use.

-. Fig. 12 illustrates in transverse section still another form of strap constructed from relatively thin fabric and having a liner or stiifening strip 40 incorporated in each of the two overlying sections 4| and 42. The marginal portions 43 of the fabric are folded inwardly across the edges of the liner strips 40 which are cemented in place between the folds and the several layers are stitched together at 44 along the edges. With this type of strap the liners or stiifening strips 40 may be cut away diagonally at the end and the fabric turned inwardly in accordion folds to form the pointed tip. This latter type of strap may have a greater thickness than those shown in Figs. and 11, but a relatively thin fabric may be employed and when the parts are stitched together they will be compressed slightly. Furthermore, it is to be understood that Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are greatly enlarged views so that the actual thickness of the sections of the straps is considerably less than shown in these illustrations.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides an improved construction of pointed tip for wristwatch straps, apparel belts, harness straps and other like articles. The improved method of forming the tip eliminates cutting or slitting the leather or other material and therefore provides for greater strength and less liability of the end of the strap splitting and abrading under hard use when worn as a wrist-watch strap or apparel belt. With the present improved method of forming the tip all the edges of the strap present a finished appearance without exposed raw edges of the leather; and in addition, the present improved method simplifies manufacture and reduces the cost of the article.

While several preferred embodiments of the improved strap are herein shown and described it is to be understood that the method of making it may be varied somewhat and different materials employed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, Without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A strap for wrist-watches, apparel belts and the like constructed from a strip of leather having portions skived to a tapering reduced thickness, said strip folded on the median line between its skived portions to provide overlying layers and the skived portions of the leather folded inwardly in triangular accordion pleats and inserted between the overlying layers with the several layers fastened together by stitching around the marginal edges of the strap.

2. A strap for wristwatches and the like constructed from a strip of single ply material doubled on itself across its width to provide two overlying longitudinally-extending single layers connected by a transverse fold at one end and having the lateral portions of its folded end turned inwardly in reverse folds forming triangularly-shaped accordion pleats inserted between the overlying layers of the material to provide a pointed tip at the end of the strap, the lateral marginal portions of the layers being folded inwardly throughout their length and the several folded portions of the material stitched together around the marginal edges of the strap including its tip to bind the several layers in close- I ly-associated flat relationship and provide a strap without raw edges of the material at the tip end or along its marginal portions. I

3. A strap of the type indicated constructed from a strip of relatively thin material folded on itself across its width at one end to provide two overlying layers with the lateral portions of the fold turned inwardly'in reverse folds form ing triangularly-shaped accordion pleats inserted between the overlying layers of the material to provide a pointed tip, a lining strip inserted between the overlying layers of the material, the longitudinal marginal portions of both layers of the strip being folded inwardly with their edges abutting the edges of the lining strip, and stitching extending around the marginal edges of the strap and the edges of its pointed tip to, bind the several layersv together in closely-associated flat relationship.

' JOHN P SCHULTHEISS. 

